Media Release
June 30, 2022
Have you ever thought of adopting an Apo Myna or a Golden-Crowned Flying Fox? Well, at least not the actual ones. How about taking an active role in wildlife conservation? It can’t be that complicated.
First Gen-owned Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the country’s leading geothermal producer, made it easy for Filipinos to contribute to protecting and conserving threatened wildlife species, like the near-threatened Apo Myna (Goodfellowia miranda) and the endangered Golden-Crowned Flying Fox (Acerodon jubatus), through plush toys. Named Diwa and Kali, each stuffed toy is packed in a printed cloth bag that contains an information card about the species.
EDC officially introduced these products on June 29 at the Museo Sorsogon, Capitol Compound, Sorsogon City. Under its BINHI-Flagship Species Initiative, the stuffed toy-making project was made possible in collaboration with the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc. (ALKFI), Karaw CraftVentures, and two community organizations from Sorsogon Province – Bacman Host Communities Multipurpose Cooperative and Seeds of Hope.
EDC funded the project, will handle the marketing and promotions of the products, and help sustain the project. The Karaw CraftVentures led the design and product development and provided one-on-one training to the communities.
Eduardo Jimenez, EDC Bacman Corporate Relations Department Head, said in his message that “this initiative aims to increase awareness and appreciation about wildlife conservation and educate its stakeholders about the wonders of nature.”
“We also intend to make significant impacts on the environment and communities by manufacturing these symbolic stuffed toys to spread awareness on the importance of wildlife conservation while supporting the two community organizations in Sorsogon Province,” Jimenez added.
The project likewise helps in empowering these communities by engaging them in conservation activities and enhancing their management and business skills through the plush toys social enterprise project.
EDC-BINHI Flagship Species Initiative Program Lead Abegail Gatdula briefly explained the background of FSI. “The initiative targets to further mainstream biodiversity conservation and prioritize the protection efforts of identified highly important fauna (animals) & flora (plants) species found at EDC’s project sites,” Gatdula explained.
You can support the community by securing a Flying Fox for only Php 800 and an Apo Myna for just Php 700. For more information, please follow EDC BINHI’s Facebook page @edcbinhi. You may also send an email to [email protected].
EDC’s over 1,480MW total installed capacity accounts for 20% of the country’s total installed RE capacity, while its 1,184.6MW geothermal portfolio accounts for 62% of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity and has put the Philippines on the map as the 3rd largest geothermal producer in the world.
